I was once told a story from a very hard-working entrepreneur about how he was able to take the stress off his back for at least six hours a day. As we all know, starting and running your own business can prove to be the most stressful endeavor someone can put on themselves. Even though all of us are not presented with the stress and pressure that an entrepreneur faces, we all are faced with the strains of life, day in and day out. Stress is a constant battle that seems to take over one's life if not properly remedied. Sure, there are various methods to relieve these struggles, but that one I've been told, and know best, is to keep stress, work, and all other types of worries out of your bed.
* Make Your Bed A Sanctuary
As my entrepreneur friend told me, his only getaway from work and the pressures of life was to lay in bed at night and relax. He made a promise to himself that when he lays in his bed, he will not allow any of these thoughts to enter his mind. He said that this was something he had to really work hard at, but when he finally wrapped his mind around it, he received the best sleep he's ever had. The key is to start thinking of your bed as a place that is impervious to anything that has to do with work or any other problems in your life. View your bed as a pure, stress-free environment and you'll find sleep as the best getaway.
* Keep Your Office Away From The Bedroom
This is a direct relationship between work and sleep, don't do it! By moving your office to a different room, or by completely eliminating one in your home, you would be freeing your mind from any thought of it. Many people set desks somewhere next to their beds, but with this you're asking for thoughts to enter your mind as you're trying to get to sleep. Anything that was left on the "to-do list", regarding personal bills or work-related topics, will find its way into your head during the time you want to escape them.
* Set A "Release" Chair Nearby
Whenever you're feeling any thoughts about stress in your life, get out of bed and sit in a chair. In this chair (which can be in your bedroom) you can think about any worries on your mind and straighten them out there. This is a method you can use to try and get used to making your bed a "sanctuary", from the previous point. Try and make a habit to use this chair as a way to release any stress so it stays out of your bed.
* Move The TVs And Computers
We love them and we hate them. A bad habit many people have is to place a TV and/or computer somewhere in their bedrooms. As these electronics are great ways to entertain and relax, they are pure distractions. If these are in the room, it's likely that at sometime you'll have the urge to get out of bed to complete a task that wasn't completed earlier. Solve this problem by simply moving these items out of the bedroom and into a more fitting location.
* Let Others Know About Your Mission
If you have a partner, this is a key point. Tell them that you are trying to eliminate all kinds of stress and worry when you're in bed. By letting him/her know, this would definitely help you achieve your goal. If, at any time, they begin talking about work or outside problems, get out of bed and tell them to wait to continue until you're in your "release chair".
* Sleep Worry-free!
With these goals and ideas in mind, you'll find that sleep will become something that you'll look forward to all day. You'll never want to skimp on sleep from now on. Even with a very busy schedule, finding the time to sleep even six hours will feel like you've received the best rest you've ever had. As my entrepreneur friend said, achieving these goals was the only way he felt sane through the constant pressure and 14+ hour work days of starting his business. Keep your bed and night's sleep as pure as you can make it. Practice and live these tips to feel the same!